Vacuum breaker



Nov. 17, 1942, w. E. sLoAN ET AL VACUUM BREAKER Filed oct. 15, 1959 s sheets-sheet 1 HHN i4 Wim INVENTORS W/LL/A/yv E. SLoA/v D G h'. RussL ATTORANEYS III r N0V- 17, 1942- w. E. sLoAN ET Ax.

' VAQUUM BREAKER Filed OCT'. l5, 1959 3 Sheetvs-Sheet 2 llil'I L/UW N E m5 mE. M m n.. m

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WCDMA ATTORNEYS Nov. 17, 1942. w, E. SLOAN ET AL VACUUM BREAKER Filed Oct. l5, 1939 3 Sheets-Shea?l 3 "mvsmons Patented Nov. 17, 19442 VACUUM BREAKER William E. Sloan, River Forest, and Irving H. Russell, Oak Park, Ill., assignors to Sloan Valve Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application October 13, 1939, Serial No. 299,336

9 claims. (01137-69) Our invention relates to vacuum breakers used to prevent back-syphonage pollution in watersupply systems, and the object generally stated is the production of a new and improved vacuum breaker which operates reliably and eiiiciently, and which can be produced economically.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION The invention is herein disclosed with particular reference to, vacuum breakers designed to operate on the discharge side of a flush valve as used to flush water closets or other receptacles.

Features of applicants improved construction include the following:

l. The vacuum-breaking device is inserted in and forms a part of the descending discharge path of the liquid, and the check-valve seat and the air-valve seat are placed opposite one another, whereby a single disc type of valve can move to the check-valve seat to act as a check valve, and can move away from the check-valve seat and into engagement with the air-valve seat to act as an air valve.

2. In order to provide for easy operation oi the combined air. valve and check valve, this valve is suspended on a pivot and the two valve seats are radially disposed with respect to the pivot point to enable the swinging valve to fully contact each seat as it is swung over against it. Then, in order to provide tolerance in manufacture and to allow for possible wear of the valve and seats, a slotted pivot arrangement is provided to enable the valve either to twist slightly from the normal axis of the pivot, or to enable the pivot point to move bodily toward cr from the plane lof the seat being engaged.

3. In order to provide for economical manufacture, the air-valve seat is formed around an inwardly-extending circular passageway in' the side wall of a section of drawn tubing,l and the check-valve seat and the mounting for the swinging valve are contained in a diagonally disposed partition across the drawn tubing, which partition can be readily form'ed from sheet metal by simple punching and/or drawing operations.

4. In order to facilitate the steps of manufacture and assembly, as well as to secure renewability of the swinging valve and its seats, the valve structure is incorporated in a short length of tubing which is renewably inserted in the descending conduit structure, within or below theV iiush valve casing. This valve assembly is held in sealing engagement with the conduit structure through a novel sealing4 and holding arrangement to be hereinafter discussed.

5..The disclosed construction particularly admits of low over-all manufacturing cost of ilushvalve equipment, in that it can be inserted and locked into place within the outlet of the flushvalve casing with only a minimum of addition to the length of the casing and only a. minimum increased cost of the ush valve casing. This construction avoids the necessity for providing a separate casing for the valve structure of thei vacuum breaker.

6. The improved renewable-unit structure above referred to is equally adaptable to use Within a separate shell or casing which can be y will become more clear as the description progresses.

The drawings Referring now to the accompanying drawings, they show a sufficient amount of apparatus constructed according to the invention to enable the invention to be understood.

Figure 1 is a plan view of a water closet installation including a ush valve equipped with a vacuum breaker constructed according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a front view of the equipment illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a front view, partly in section, of the flush valve of Figures 1 and 2 showing how the improved vacuum breaker is incorporated therein;

Figure 4 is a view of the casing portion 6 of V Figure 3, taken along the section line d-;

Figure 5 is a sectional view of the improved vacuum breaker incorporated in a separate cast A flcation of the separate-fitting arrangement.

showing the casing parts threaded together, with the shield portion separate from the outer shell;

Figure 9 shows a construction in which the vacuum breaker is made a portion of the discharge tube which connects the ush valve with the ilxture to be flushed;

Figure 10 is a view, partly in section, of the renewable valve structure, such as is used in the devices of Figures 3 and 5 Figure 11 is a bottom view of the device shown in Figure 10;

Figure 12 is a view, partly in section, taken from the right side of the device shown in Figure 10;

Figure 13 is a plan view o1' a desirable modication of the construction illustrated in Figures 10, 11, and 12;

Figure 14 is a view, partly in section, taken from the left of the device shown in Figure 13 and from a point diagonally above it;

Figure 15 is a front sectional view of the device of Figures 13 and 14;

Figure 16 is a view from the right, partly in section, of the device of Figures 13, 14, and 15;

Figure 17 is an enlarged front view, partly in section, of the device of Figures 13 to 16 installed in the outlet of a flush valve;

Figure 18 is a front sectional View of a desirable modication of the valve structure, employing a counterweight to cause the valve to hang normally further away from the air inlet and closer to the water inlet; and

Figure 19 is a right-side view of the device illustrated in Figure 18, taken with the valve actuated to close the air passage.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The invention having been described generally, a detailed description of the illustrated apparatus will now be given.

Figures 1 to 4 throttle or stop valve 2, and the supply nipple 3.,

As is seen best in Figure 2, the outlet of the flush valve 4 is connected by the descending discharge tube 'I to the water closet 8. In Figure 2 it is to be noted that the ush valve 4 has the extended outlet portion 6 and shield portion I8. These are the parts which have been added to the iiush valve 4 to house and accommodate the vacuum breaker device', as is shown best in Figure 3.

In Figure 3 the female-threaded inlet of the flush valve 4 is indicated at II; I2 is the vertically reciprocable main piston valve; I 3is the inserted main seat for the piston valve; I4 is the stem of the usual relief valve contained within the piston I2; I5 is the usual spring-retracted plunger controlled by the actuating handle in the usual manner.

The male-threaded outlet portion 33 of the flush valve 4 is lowered somewhat from its usual position, and the portion 6 of the ilush valve casing, which lies between the outlet portion 33 and the discharge chamber containing -parts I4 and I5, is provided and arranged to receive the valve assembly indicated generally by the reference character 22. This valve assembly includes the pendant va1ve`25, pivoted at 28 to swing into sealing engagement with the seat .around air passage 24 when water is being discharged. and to swing to the left into engagement with the seat around Water port 21 when there is a sub-atmospheric condition in the supply line tending to produce back syphonage.

As will be described more in detail hereinafter in connection with the showing in Figures 10, 11, and 12, the valve unit 22 includes the tubular portion 23 preferably comprising a section of drawn metal tubing; the diagonally-disposed partition member 26 which substantially closes the tubular portion 23 to the passage of water except by way of the circular port 2l in the partition; and the valve 25 pivoted at 28 to a suitable bracket secured to the partition member 26. The air passageway 24 into the right side of tubular member 23 is preferably provided by a forming and punching operation. followed by such machining operation as may be necessary to provide an accurate seating surface around the inside end of the passageway 24 for the valve 25.

For the purpose of holding the valve assembly 22 renewably in place in tight sealing engagement at both ends thereof, the upper gasket Il is located in an annular downwardly-opening retaining groove in which the gasket is held and prevented from being forced out of position when pressure is applied thereto by the upper surface of the tubular portion 23, and the lower sealing gasket 29 is held in an upwardly opening annular groove formed between the adjacent wall of casing portion 6 and the annular notch formed in the upper portion oi' the periphery of retaining ring 30. This retaining ring makes threading engagement with the casing portion 6, and is provided with the indicated inwardly turned lugs to facilitate turning in as tightly into position as desired. The gaskets II and 29 are prei'- erably composed of comparatively soft rubber or of any other material having similar characteristics. It is to be particularly noted that the gasket 29 must be capable of outward expansion against the adjacent inside wall of the casing portion 6 to effect a sealing engagement with Y this casing portion, in'order to provide a leakproof annular pocket between the tubular portion 23 and the casing portion 6.

Air is freely admitted to the interior of the casing portion 6 through the horizontal air openings 20 and 2i, the length of which can be clearly seen in Figure 4. Air thus admitted to the interior of the casing portion 6 can pass freely around the tubular member 23 to enter the airintake passage 24. The annular member I8 is provided to shield the openings 20 and 2|. Member I8 is turned inwardly at the upper end to contact the casing up against the illustrated shoulder. The member I8 may be held in assembled position by staking of the casing, as at I9, and at desired other points around the circumference. Y

The discharge tube I is secured to the 'outlet portion 33 by having its upper end passed up within this outlet portion 33. The retaining ring 30 serves as a positive stop for tube 1. 'Ihe tube 1 is held in sealing engagement with the outlet portion 33 by coupling nut 3I and sealing gasket 32.

Figures 1 to 4; operation In the installation illustrated by Figures 1 to 4, when the water closet 8 is to be flushed, and the handle 5-of flush valve 4 is therefore actuated, handle plunger I5 of Figure 3 is moved inwardly to tilt the relief-valve stem I4. Responsive to this, the main valve piston I2 moves upwardly in the usual manner away from the main seat I 3 to provid ,a generous passageway for the ilow of water t ough the ilush valve. The handle 5 is thereupon released, and the piston I2 is allowed to slowly descend to its illustrated. position to again terminate the ilow after a desired quantity of water has been discharged.

In the vacuum breaker portion of the structure, the water discharged by the flush-valve portion passes throughv the diagonally disposed port 21 in the partition and impinges against the valve 2,5, and is diverted thereby down into the discharge tube 1 and thence passes into the water closet 8. Whenthe flow starts, valve moves immediately into seating engagement with the inner end of the inturnedv portion defining the passageway 24, thereby preventing leakage oi water out through the air-intake passageway. The valve 25 remains held in itsright-hand position to keep the vent opening closed until the ilow has substantially ceased. Then, the air valve 25 is permitted to swing to its illustrated open position, allowing air to re-enter the ilush tube 1. When this occurs, the water drains out of the ilush tube 1 and out of the interior of the iiush valve below the main seat I3 thereof.

Under certain conditions of flow and pressure, as will be readily understood. particularly when the flush valve 4 is installed some distance above the water closet 8, and the rate of flow reaches a low value just prior to termination, the weight oi' the'water being discharged through tube 'I may be suflicient to slightly open the valve 25 from seat 24 and thereby draw in a slight amount of air while water is still being discharged. l Such drawing in of air tends to render the flushing operation noisy when permitted to occur to any great extent. The illustrated construction practically overcomesthis tendency for anything except an extreme installation, because the valve 25 is So easily held on its Seat around the airintake passage by the water which is coming through the port 21 and striking against the valve 25 throughout the entire ilushing operation.

The annular space provided between the outside wall of the tube portion 23 and the inside wall of the portion 6, in addition to providing for free passage of air to the air-intake passage 24, serves to form a pocket below the level of openings 20 and 2| wherein any water which may escape through the vent-valve arrangement under abnormal conditions is retained in the pocket until the above mentioned draining operation occurs at the end of the flushing operation. Water which may be in this pocket is then permitted to drain back into the water passageway and pass down through the discharge tube 1.

When the supply pressure falls suillciently below atmospheric pressure to tend to cause the contents of the water closet 8 to be syphoned back into the supply line, the provision of the air-intake openings 20 and 2I, of an area greatly in excess of the area of the supply line, maintains atmospheric pressure inside .the casing 6, and through the passageway 24 onto the righthand side of valve 25. Under this condition. the atmospheric pressure on the right-hand side of valve 25, as opposed to a sub-atmospheric pressure on the left-hand side of this valve, causes valve 25 to swing to the left to close the port 21 and hold it closed as long as the sub-atmospheric condition persists. By the movement of valve 25 to-the left to assume its check-valve position,

a` large passageway is provided to the interior ot the discharge tube 1 to maintain atmospheric pressure inside this discharge tube and thereby positively prevent raising ot the contents of the water closet 8 up into the discharge tube 1. The illustrated venting arrangement is, ample to maintain substantially atmospheric pressure inside the discharge tube 1, even inthe face of any small leakage which may perfect seating of valve 25 around port 21.

In' connection with the above sub-atmospheric condition, it may be pointed out that this condition may occur while the main valve I2 of the iiush valve 4 is in its uppermost full open position, in which position the tendency toward back syphonage is the greatest. 'It may sometimes occur that a full flushing ow is immediately succeeded by a severe vacuum condition. If this occurs in the illustrated ilush valve 4, the valve 25 immediately leaves its vent-valve seat to the right and swings to the left, as previously described, to act as a check valve. The water then contained in the structure below valve 25 drains into the water closet through tube 1 because of the atmospheric pressure admitted through gpenings 20 and 2| and through intake-passage When an established ysub-atmospheric condition existing in the supply pipe is terminated, the check valve 25 is tree to assume its illustrated vertical position, or to be again moved to the right to close the vent passageway when there is a further flow of water through the ush valve 4.

Figure 5 In the modiiication illustrated in Figure 5, the vacuum breaker is housed in a separate casing portion 6', which is coupled onto the outlet 38 oi' a ilush valve 4 not otherwise provided with a vacuum breaking arrangement. The gasket 31 f .is used to prevent leakage. The separate casing portion 6', Yexcept forthe above mentioned coupling provision, may be similar'to the casing por- 1 tion 5 of Figures 1 to 4, formed integrally with the ilush valve 4. The valve unit 22' is secured within the casing 6 to perform its vacuumbreaking function as described in connection Y with the valve unit 22. It will be understood, of course, that a ilush tube such as ush tube 1, shown in Figures 2 and 4, may be coupled onto the outlet 33' of the casing 5', in the Amanner illustrated in Figure 3.

Figures 6 and 7 ment of Figure 5, but more use is made in Figures 6 and 7 of drawn'tubing. As seen best in Figure 6, the outlet portion 5I is used to join the inside tubular member to the casing member 52. Outlet portion 5I may be a machined casting, may be machined from heavy-wall tubing, or it may be machined from solid rod, as preferred.

. The inside tube member 55 is formed to contain the intake-passage 51 terminating in the airvalve seat, and is provided with the partition member 59 having the water port 60 therein, and it has a suitable bracket i'or suspending the pendant valve 58. The tube member 55 may be secured inthe outlet portion 5I by means of brazing or by soldering, as at 5I. The upper extension portion l5t of the tube 55 is provided for the purpose of enabling the unit to be inserted occur as a result of im Ainto the outlet of a flush valve and secured therein in the manner in which the ush tube 1 of Figure 3 is connected to the outlet 33 of the vacuum breaker portion of the flush valve 4.

The outer shell portion 52 is held to piece 5| by brazing or soldering, as at 62. The outer shell member 52 provides the previously discussed pocket for escaped liquid between its inside wall andthe outside wall of tube 55. 'I'he top portion of outer shell 52 is formed and turned to provide the shield portion 54 of greater over-all diameter than the main shell portion 52. A number of air openings 53 (best seen in Figure '7) are formed around the annular oifset between portions 52 and 54 to provide an ample supply of air to the interior of the device. By making the shield portion 54 integral with the shell portion 52, the structure is comparatively rigid, even though .composed of drawn tubing, for the outer shell 42 is supported through the close t between part 52 and the extension 58 of the tube 55.

Figure 8 As previously mentioned, Figure 8 illustrates a modification of the arrangement shown in Figures 6 and '1. In Figure 8, the inside tubular portion 15 is threaded into the outlet portion 1| at 11, and the outer shell portion 12 is threaded to the outlet portion 1i at 16. The threads 16 and 11 may be made water-tight by the use of white lead or other similar sealing compound.

The separate shield 14 is assembled over the tubular portion 15, and rests on lugs 13, of which a suiflcient number may be provided. Ample air-intake capacity is provided between the lugs 13.

Figure 9 As previously stated, the vacuum breaker shown in Figure 9 is made a part of the flush tube 85, the flush tube 86 being understood to occupy the position in an installation which is occupied by the ush tube 1, Figures 2 and 3. 'Ihe upper portion 85 of the flush tube may be coupled onto the outlet of a flush valve in the usual manner. vExcept for the fact that the flush tube is integral therewith, the construction of Figure 9 may be similar to the construction in Figures 6 and '1, or in Figure 8, being illustrated as more nearly like the construction of Figure 8. The air-intake portion and vent-valve seat 84 are formed in the side of the flush tube 86, and the illustrated valve arrangement is associated therewith, as described in connection with Figures 3 to 8. The outer shell 82 has a reduced diameter at the lower end to enable it to fit closely around the tubing 86, and the two may be held rigidly together by brazing or soldering, such as at 81. The ush tube portion 86 extending down from the vacuum breaker illustrated in Figure 9 may be made of a length sumcient to take care of the maximum distance anticipated between the flush valve and the water closet. Then, the installing workman may cut off as much of the bottom portion of the tube 86 as may be required to provide for any installation in which the distance between the outlet of the flush valve and-the water closet is less than the said maximum distance.

Figures 10, 11, and 12 tures of Figures 1 to 4, and 5. Speciilcally, it isassumed that Figures 10 to 12 are additional views of the valve structure illustrated at 22 in Figure 3.

In Figure 10, the tubular portion 23 is illustrated in section. It is to be observed that the mounting bracket 45 (seen in outline in Figure 12) is provided with horizontal slot 46 for the end of pivot 28 seen in Figure 10. It will be understood, of course, that a similar slot is provided for the other end of pivot 28. As seen in Figure I2, the bracket 45 is generally U-shaped in outline. The two ends are symmetrical. The bracket is held in position by rivets 41.

As illustrated in Figures l0 to l2, the partition member 26, preferably stamped and punched from sheet metal, comprises the fiat top section 4i, the inclined middle section 42', and the fiat bottom section 43. There is an offset portion 44 which forms a horizontal depression within which the two ends of bracket 45 lie. By means of this provision, the bracket 45 can be moved suiciently to the left, as seen in Figure 10 to permit the valve 25 to stand in its illustrated position between its two seats and out of contact with lthe vent valve seat around the air-inlet portion 24. As illustrated, the width of slot 4S is about double the height thereof. For the purpose illustrated, the pivot pin 28 may be about one-sixteenth inch in diameter, and the slot 46 may be slightly more than one-sixteenth inch 'in height and slightly more than one-eighth inch in length. By this arrangement, manufacturing variations (such as a variation in the location of the bracket 45, a variation in the thickness of the valve 25, or a variation in the relative disposition of the two seats for valve 25) do not prevent the valve from seating accurately at either of its seats.

To enable it to fit closely inside the tube portion 23, the partition 28 is of substantially circular outline, when viewed from above, or when viewed from below as in Figure ll. This partition is held in place preferably by brazing or soldering, such as at 48 and 49. It has been found unnecessary to braze or solder between the inside of the tube 23 and the diagonal portion 42, provided the lit between the parts is comparatively close, as a substantial amount of leakage 4during a sub-atmospheric condition in the supply line can be tolerated without back syphonage resulting, principally because of the illustrated large free air-intake arrangement, particularly described in connection with Figures 3 and 4.

Figures 13 to 17 Figures 13 to 17 show a valve Vunit 22 which is a modified construction of the replaceable valve unit 22 as illustrated in installed position in Figures 3 and 5, and additionally detailed in Figures 10 to 12.

'I'he conduit portion 23" is similar to the conduit portion 23, and has the inwardly turned structure defining the air inlet 24" which terminates in the air-valve seat for the pendant valve 25".

The construction of the partition of Figures 13 to 17 differs from the construction of the partition 26 of Figures 3 and 5, and 10 to 12, in that the stream of water which descends during a flushing operation is more nearly funneled to the port 9|, provided through partition 90, than is the case with the partition 26. The partition 90 includes the fiat top portion 92; the diagonally disposed flat portion 96; the substantially semicylindrical portionv 93 which closely surrounds the bottom portion of the port 9|; and the downwardly converging side portions 94.

As best seen in Figure 14, the semi-cylindrical bottom portion 93, which is disposed at right angles to the diagonal side portions 94, but the portions 94 are ared outwardly somewhat from a position at right angles to the flat portion 96, whereby the desired funnel-like contraction of the flow area toward the port 9| is enhanced.

By the illustrated tunneling construction, the water is led smoothlyl and quietly to and through the port 9|. in a smaller pressure drop through the valve structure, but it also directs the stream against the valve 2li with better force. As a result, the valve 25" is very reliably held against seat 24 during a ilushing operation.

The construction in Figures 13 to 17 also includes an improved bracket arrangement. Instead of being secured by rivets as is the bracket 45 of Figures 10 to 12, bracket 98 of Figures 13 to 17 is assembled with the partition 90 by having the down-turned arms thereof passed down through two slots 99 (see Figure 13) in the upper nat portion 92 of the partition, leaving the main body portion of the bracket 98 on the top side of the partition. The bracket may be held in place, and any space left around slots 99 may be sealed, by brazing or soldering the main body portion of the bracket 90 to the top surface or partition portion 92, as indicated in the drawings.

As seen best in Figures and 17, the slot |00 in which the pivot pin 29" rests is open at the left. By this arrangement, the partition 9B may portion 96, merges with the This construction not only results be soldered in place iirst, and the valve 25" and bracket 98 assembled afterwards.f This enables parts 23" and 96 to be thoroughly heated for what is termed a sweat soldering operation, which could not be done without damage to the moulded rubber portion oi valve 25" if it were assembled irst. 'I'he entire line of contact between members 23 and 96 can thus be soldered firmly to Produce a mechanically strong and leak-proof seam. Following this, the valve 25 may be held in place, and the bracket 99 may be slipped down through slots 99 (see Figure 13) and then turned and passed `into position. The open-ended slots |00 receive pivot pin 28" as the bracket is being moved into its illustrated location. The bracket 00 may now be soldered in place by locally applied heat without heating the structure generally. This local heat application is preferably of such short duration that the rubber portion of valve 25" is not damaged and the previously applied solder is not melted.

Referring now particularly to Figure 17, wherein valve assembly 22" is installed in ush-valve casing I", this drawing illustrates clearly the arrangement provided for utilizing the upper and lower gaskets Il" and 29" for eiectively sealing around the upper and lower ends of the conduit portion 23'. This gasketing arrangement is the same as is shown in Figures 3 and 5. It will be observed that the outer portion of the retaining ring 30" is left unthreaded for a short vertical distance at |0l, whereby the ring 30" may be turned in from its illustrated position as much as may be desired to compensate for dimensional variations. In practice, when the valve unit is removed, upper gasket Il" remainsvin position and need not be disturbed when the same or another valve unit is replaced.

Some authorities are inclined to the view that a vacuum breaker should allow a restricted backow of air to the supply line during a sub-atmospheric condition therein. Accordingly, an arrangement for permitting this is provided in the device of Figures 13 to 17. The metal portion of valve 25 has a shallow depression 95 formed therein through which a sharply limited ow of air can occur. This depression is so located as to be kept free of sediment by the washing it receives on each flow of water.

Figures 18 and 19 Figures 18 and 19 show a further modiication of the valve unit. The tubular shell portion is indicated at |09, the partition at H0, the water port at If I the valve at |12, the pivot point at H3, and the air-intake passageway through the wall of tube |09 is indicated at H4.

In the modified construction shown in Figures 18 and 19, a counterweight IIB is provided to maintain the valve H2 substantially tipped from vertical position to cause it to stand normally close to its check-valve position and away from its air-valve seat. By this construction, any tendency otherwise exhibited by the pendant valve to swing back to its air-valve seat at the end of a flushing operation and adhere temporarily in that position, when the valve and the air-valve seat are both wet, is overcome. Also, the counterweighted valve ||2 of Figures 18 to 19 is very readily brought into its seated position as acneck valve to close the water port lll when back syphonage tends to occur.

The valve |12, as in the lcase of the valves illustrated in the other :figures of drawings, may convemently be composed of a suitably formed reinforcing portion ||5 which may be punched and formed from sheet brass for example, together with a main body portion IIS which may represent rubber moulded with and vulcanized to the reinforcing sheet portion |I5. The rubber portion Ill is provided on the air-valve side oi the valve structure ||2 because accurate seating is required around the cylindrical air passageway Il to prevent the out-leakage of water during a fiushing operation. A metal-to-metal seat between the reinforcing portion l I5 and the ilat portion surrounding the water port I suilices when the valve ||2 is drawn over to the left to serve as'a check valve during a condition tending to cause back syphonage, for the intake of air under this condition is sufficient to satisfy such leakage back as may occur.

The counterweight |18 is provided with a reduced stem portion ||9 which passes through a hole provided in the rubber portion H6. This stem portion ||9 preferably ends in a further portion having a slightly smaller diameter. This last-named portion passes through an opening in the metal portion ||5-, enabling portion ||9 to shoulder against the iiat surface of metal portion ||5 to enable the )end portion to be riveted at |20 to hold the counterweight ||8 in its illustrated position.

The counte'rweighted valve assembly may be manufa tured conveniently by first blanking out the metal portion ||5 with a hole therethrough for the small yend portion of the counterweight ||9, and with the hook portion ||1 formed to support the pivot pin H3. The metal blank H5 can then be assembled in a mould having a pin therein which/ extends through the opening in the metal blank 'to provide the opening in the rubber portion H6 after the moulding operation has been completed. Then, the counterweight H8 can be assembled and riveted as at |20, In

assembling the counterweight, the moulded hole through the rubber is expanded and stretched as the stem portion H9 of the counterweght H8 is forced into position preparatory to riveting.

The counterweight H8 is sufficiently short that it does not interfere with sliding the valve H6 into place after the partition H has rst been soldered in place, in the nal assembly of the valve and bracket I2I.

The top portion of metal piece H is curled around as illustrated to form a hook for retaining pivot pin H3 iirmly in place. Following the moulding operation, a slightly undersized hole is drilled for the pivot pin. The pin is then forced into place. The drilling operation is facilitated by curling the hook portion suiiiciently small inside that a thin layer of metal is drilled away whereby the rubber forced into the opening during moulding is readily loosened and shed by the drill.

If desired, in the counterweighted structure of Figures 18 and 19, the air-valve seat around the inside end of passage H4 may be vertical instead of inclined, for the valve H6 hangs away from it in either case.

It will be understood, of course, that the valves illustrated in the other modifications may be constructed in a similar manner.

Although the invention has been described as being particularly applicable for use to prevent back syphonage through flush valves, it is clear that the invention may be employed wherever a vacuum-breaking device of this general character is desired.

What We claim is:

1. In a vacuum breaker structure, a conduit, a partition positioned diagonally within said conduit to divide it into a supply section and a discharge section, there being a water port through said partition surrounded by a valve seat on the discharge side thereof, there being a vent passageway opening into the discharge section of said conduit and surrounded by a vent-valve seat, a disc valve for seating engagement alternatively with said seats, said diagonal partition having a transverse portion formed thereon providing means for securing said partition within said conduit, and means including a bracket secured to said partition transverse portion and a pivot retained therein and engaging said valve for holding said valve in place and permitting it to move between said seats.

2. In a vacuum breaker structure, a conduit, a partition positioned within said conduit to divide it into a supply section and a discharge section, there being aA water port through said partition surrounded by a valve seat on the discharge side thereof, there being a vent passageway opening into the discharge section of said conduit and surrounded by a vent-valve seat, said seats being generally opposite and facing one another, said partition being bent to form a flat portion over said vent passageway opening, following by a diagonal portion containing said water port, a disc valve for seating engagement alternatively with said seats, and bracket means secured to said flat portion of the partition for holding said valve in place and permitting it to move between said seats.

3. In a vacuum breaker structure, a conduit, a side wall of said conduit being piereced and extending inwardly to provide a vent opening and a valve seat, said conduit having a diagonal partition therein dividing it into two sections, there being a water port through said partition opposite said vent opening, and valve means located in said conduit and eiective alternatively to close said water port and said vent opening, said valve means suspended to hang freely in its normal position from said diagonal partition and out of engagement with said water port and said vent opening.

4. In a vacuum breaker for a liquid supply system, a tubular casing, a pair of valve seats arranged in opposed relationship and associated with said casing, and a valve member disposed between said seats and operated to effect engagement with either seat selectively, said valve member being pivotally suspended to hang freely in its normal position out of engagement with both of said seats, and biasing means on said valve member for normally positioning said valve member closer to one of said valve seats than to the other,

5. In a vacuum breaker for a liquid supply system, a tubular casing adapted to be positioned within a liquid supply conduit having an air inlet therein, said casing having a wall portion arranged with a first valve seat thereon, a second valve seat arranged in spaced relationship to said iirst valve seat and communicating with the air inlet in said supply conduit, valve means pivotally supported on said casing Wall portion and disposed between said valve seats, said valve means freely suspended from its pivot support in a position normally out of engagement with both of said valve seats, said valve means swingable from its free normal position into engagement with said rst valve seat responsive to the occurrence of a vacuum condition in said liquid supply and swingable from its free normal position into engagement with said second valve seat responsive to the passage of the liquid supply, and biasing means on said valve means for normally positioning said valve means closer to said rst valve seat than to said second valve seat.

6. In a vacuum breaker for a liquid supply system, a tubular casing adapted to be 4vertically positioned within a liquid supply conduit having an air inlet therein, a wall portion arranged on said casing having a check valve seat formed therein, said check valve seat being diagonally disposed in said casing and with respect to the path of the liquid supply stream, an air inlet seat arranged in spaced relationship to said check valve seat and communicating with the air inlet in said supply conduit, said air inlet seat being substantially vertically disposed in said casing, valve means pivotally supported at one end to said casing wall portion and disposed between said check valve seat and said air inlet seat, said valve means freely suspended from its pivot support in a position normally out of engagement with said check valve and said air inlet seats, said valve means swingable from its free normal position into engagement with said check valve seat responsive to the occurrence of a vacuum condition in said liquid supply and swingable from its free normal position into engagement with said air inlet seat responsive to the passage of the liquid supply.

'7. In a vacuum breaker for a liquid supply system, a tubular casing adapted to be vertically positioned within a liquid supply conduit having an air inlet therein, said casing having a Wall portion arranged with a check valve seat formed therein, said check valve seat being diagonally disposed in said casing and with respect to the path of the liquid supply stream, an air inlet able from its normal position into engagement seat arranged in spaced relationship to said check valve seat and communicating with the air inlet in said supply conduit, said air inlet seat being substantially vertically disposed with respect to said casing, valve means pivotally supported at one end to said casing wall portion and disposed between said check valve seat and said air inlet seat, said valve means freely suspended from its pivot support in an intermediate position normally out of engagement with said check valve and said air inlet seats, but positioned closer to one of said seats, said valve means swingable from its normal intermediate position into engagement with said check valve seat responsive to the occurrence of a vacuum condition in said liquid supply and swingable from its normal intermediate position into engagement with said air inlet seat responsive to the passage of the liquid supply.

8. In a vacuum breaker for a liquid supply system, a tubular casing adapted to bevertically positioned within a liquid supply conduit having an air inlet therein, a check valve seat arranged upon a wall portion of said casing, an air inlet seat arranged in spaced relationship yto said check valve seat upon another wall portion of said casing and communicating with the air inlet in said supply conduit, valve means pivotally supported at one end to said casing wall portion and disposed between said check valve` seat and said air inlet seat so as to freely swing therebetween, said valve means freely suspended from with said air inlet seat responsive to the passage of the liquid supply, and means for biasing said valve means in its normal position substantially closer to one of said seats than to the other.

cally positioned within a liquid supply conduit having an air inlet therein, a partition including a portion extending diagonally inside `said casing with upper and lower transverse portions extending from' each end of said partition, said diagonal partition portion having a discharge port, a check valve seat arranged on said discharge port, an air inlet seat arranged on a side wall of said casing, said check valve seat and said air inlet seat being disposed so as to diverge angularly downward with respect to each other, a valve member pivoted from the upper transverse partition portion so as to hang downward, said valve member normally hanging in a position intermediate and out of engagement with said check valve seat and said air inlet seat, whereby in response to the liquid supply flow through said casing the valve member is caused to be deected from its intermediate position into engagement with the air inlet seat and in response to the occurrence of a vacuum condition is caused to engage the check valve seat, the lower transverse partition portion being shaped to divert the liquid supply ow directly against said valve member, and supporting means on both of said transverse partition portions for supporting said partition within said casing.

WILLIAM E. SLOAN. IRVING H. RUSSELL. 

